Method of and apparatus for applying labels to articles or packages

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a method of applying labels to packages or articles to be labeled in which a silicone coated paper carrier web having a succession of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated labels peelably adhered thereto is intermittently advanced past a label applying zone where the web undergoes an abrupt change of direction and a label is peeled off the web and applied to an article or package to be labeled with the carrier web being conjointly pushed and pulled through said abrupt change of direction while the web is advancing by a three roll means arrangement in which a middle web contacting roll is fictionally driven by contact with the other two rolls. Additionally, there is disclosed apparatus for carrying out such method which includes means operable, responsive to an approaching article or package to cause the middle roll to make contact with the web and the other two rolls to cause advance of the web to effect a labelling operation and means operable, responsive to approaching movement of a next label to cause said middle roll to move out of contact with the other two rolls to effect page of said carrier web.

July 11, 1972 J. E. INGALLS 3,

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TO ARTICLES OR PACKAGES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1969 INVEN TOR. JAMES E INGALLS AT TORNEYSy 11, 1972 J. E. INGALLS 3,676,257

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TO ARTICLES OR PACKAGESFiled July 5, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES E INGALLS Q m ml inn. nwm m-i lllllllllllll HHIHI ATTORNEYS Ill) Illllii July 11, 1972 J.E. INGALLS 3,676,257

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS T0 ARTICLES OR PACKAGES 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1969 ig @lwa INVENTOR.

JAMES E INGALLS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,676,257.Patented July 11, 1972 3,676,257 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYINGLABELS T ARTICLES OR PACKAGES James E. Ingalls, 325 2nd Ave. S., St.Petersburg, Fla. 33060 Filed July 3, 1969, Ser. No. 838,805 Int. Cl.B65h 25/04, 5/28 US. Cl. 156-351 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThere is disclosed a method of applying labels to packages or articlesto be labeled in which a silicone coated paper carrier web having asuccession of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated labels peelably adheredthereto is intermittently advanced past a label applying zone where theweb undergoes an abrupt change of direction and a label is peeled offthe web and applied to an article or package to be labeled with thecarrier web being conjointly pushed and pulled through said abruptchange of direction while the web is advancing by a three roll meansarrangement in which a middle web contacting roll is frictionally drivenby contact with the other two rolls. Additionally, there is disclosedapparatus for carrying out such method which includes means operable,responsive to an approaching article or package to cause the middle rollto make contact with the web and the other two rolls to cause advance ofthe web to effect a labelling operation and means operable, responsiveto approaching movement of a next label to cause said middle roll tomove out of contact with the other two rolls to effect stoppage of saidcarrier web.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates broadly to theart of label application. 7

More particularly, this invention relates to an improved method of andapparatus for applying labels to packages.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a method of applying0r dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesive coated labels and to anapparatus for carrying out such method.

Further, this invention relates to the application to packages ofpressure-sensitive adhesive coated labels which are adhered to a carrierstrip or web of paper having a silicone coating thereon which preventsthe labels from permanently sticking to the carrier strip or web butwill allow the labels to be stripped or peeled from the carrier strip orweb during a label applying operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is a primary object of thisinvention to provide a method of applying labels to packages or the likethat is reliable in operation, economical to perform and which utilizesapparatus aspects that provide a lowcost label applying head.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of applyinglabels to packages which is package controlled in that successive labelsare applied to succes sive packages upon relative passing movementbetween such packages and the label applying head and in which thepackages trip a drive input relation to cause advance of a carrier weband the labels thereon to apply a label to the first package with theadvancing movement of the next label interrupting such input driverelation until the next package arrives at the labeling location.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of applyinglabels to packages which comprises effecting relative movement between alabel applying head and a package, initiating advance of a carrier webhaving a succession of peelable labels thereon to a zone of labelapplication, at such zone, changing the direction of movement of theweb, peeling a label from the web and applying the same to a package,interrupting the advance of said web in response to approaching movementof the next succeeding label and repeating said initiating andinterrupting steps so as to apply labels to additional packages.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method ofapplying labels to packages which includes effecting relative passingmovement of packages and a zone of label application, supporting acarrier web having a succession of pressure sensitive adhesive coatedlabels peelably adhered thereto for movement to and past such zone oflabel application, in advance of such zone, frictionally pushing saidweb and labels thereon toward such zone, at said zone abruptly changingthe direction of movement of said web to a direction opposite thedirection of movement of a package to place a label in contact with apackage and peel such label from said web, simultaneous with saidpushing, frictionally pulling on said web, and interrupting said pushingand pulling in response to advancing movement of a subsequent labeltoward such zone.

An additional object of this invention is to provide apparatus forapplying labels to packages which includes three roll means, two of saidroll means being driven roll means and located on opposite sides of azone of label application, the third roll means being mounted formovement into and out of contact with said two roll means, supply andtake-up reel means and web guide means for a carrier web having asuccession of pressure sensitive adhesive coated labels peelably adheredthereto, so arranged that such web passes from the supply reel meansbetween said third roll means and one of said first two roll means toand past said zone of label application in an abrupt change of directionand between said third roll means and the other of said first two rollmeans to said take-up reel means, and means for intermittently movingsaid third roll means into and out of contact with said web and bothsaid first two roll means to conjointly push said web and the labelsthereon toward said zone and pull said web away from said zone so that alabel is peeled from the web by adherence to a package responsive torelative passing movement between a package and such zone of labelapplication as the web changes direction, while said third roll makessuch contact and the advance of such web ceasing when said third roll isout of contact and the means operative to eflect such intermittentmovement being operable to cause movement of said third roll into suchcontact responsive to arrival of a package at such zone and to causemovement of said third roll out of contact responsive to approachingmovement of a subsequent label toward such zone.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a label applyingapparatus for use with a carrier 'web having a succession of pressuresensitive adhesive coated labels peelably adhered thereto which includesthree parallel roll means, two of which are spaced in the direction oflabel application and the third of which is between the first two, meansfor guiding such web to move between one of the first two and the thirdtoward a zone of label application and between the other of said firsttwo and the third away from such zone of label application and means forintermittently frictionailly driving such third roll means responsive torotation of said other two roll means to intermittently advance and stopsaid web to feed successive labels to such zone of label application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further and more specific objects andadvantages of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a label applying apparatus inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the label applying head of theapparatus of FIG. 1 as seen from the rear thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of such label applying head;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of such label applying head;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of such label applying head as seen frombelow;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are vertical cross-sectional views taken along lines7-7, 88 and 9-9, respectively, of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the label applying head withthe major component parts thereof in position to dispense or apply alabel in accordance with the method of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a similar view illustrating the same major component parts inthe position assumed when the advance of the carier web is stopped; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified version of themethod of applying labels in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention asillustrated includes certain operative major components that will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter. However, certain groups of thesecomponents cooperate to provide, in the specific embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 11, a labeling operation which applies successive labels tosuccessive packages in a manner such that as a package to be labeledmoves toward and beneath the label applying head R, the oncoming packagedisplaces by pivoting action a trip finger F which trips a clutch G tocause a cam H to rotate sufiiciently to allow a spring biased lever I tolower a third roll means C into contact with two rubber roll means A, Bto advance the web W having a series of pressure sensitive adhesivecoated labels 1. peelably adhered to a silicone coating applied to webW. The clutch controlled cam shaft only rotates a limited amount,suflicient to cause the lowering of the third roll and then disengages.The web advances, a label peels off same, as the web abruptly changesdirection around a dispensing bar D, the peeled off label adhering tothe package P and being pressed thereto by roll means A. The advancingmovement of the web causes the leading edge of the next label L' toengage a finger or lever supported star wheel I to rotate the same aquarter turn. This action causes another lever K carried by a shaft Mthat is turned when the point of the fingersupported star wheel contactsthe dispensing bar D to swing a further lever N to again trip the clutchG to rotate the cam shaft 0 so that the lever I, controlling theposition of the third roll means C, is raised by the cam H to raise thethird roll means C out of contact with the two rubber roll means A, Band the carrier web W to cause stoppage of the advance of said web. Theclutch controlled camshaft 0 ceasing turning at a position thatconditions the lever I to again be lowered upon the next tripping of theclutch in response to the next package engaging and swinging upwardlythe trip finger E.

With the aforegoing general method of operation and general structuralcharacteristics in mind, the overall labeling apparatus includes a driveunit Q and the label applying head R. The drive unit contains a motorand speed control mechanism, not shown, and externally mounted controlswitches and fuses. The motor is belted to a main shaft 1 which servesas a waste web rewind. The label applying head R receives power from themain shaft 1 via a sprocket wheel on the main shaft, not shown, and achain 3 to a sprocket wheel 4 on a shaft 5 in the head R. The labelapplying head R includes two side plates 8 and 9. Extending betweenthese side plates, are shafts 5, 6 and 7. Sprocket wheels 10, 11 and 12are mounted on the respective shafts and a chain 13 is trained over suchsprockets. The sprocket wheel 12 is connected to clutch input coupling18 on shaft 7. Thus when the main shaft 1 rotates, a drive istransmitted via chain 3 to sprocket wheel 4 on shaft 5, and via sprocketwheels 10, 11 and 12 and chain 13 so that shafts 5 and 6 and the clutchinput coupling 18 on shaft 7 rotate in unison. Shafts 5 and 6 carryrubber roll means A and B. The roll means B is a single roll while rollmeans A is comprised of two axially spaced rolls 16 and 17. The gapbetween these rolls accommodates a package sensing finger F carried by alever F projecting froma shaped collar means 14, journalled on shaft 7and urged by a spring 15 in a direction to normally hold finger F inlowered position. The shaft 7 is a combined control and cam shaft. Theend of shaft 7 adjacent sprocket wheel 12 includes a clutching mechanismG comprising input coupling 18 and output coupling 19 which, whenengaged, transmits drive to shaft 7' to rotate control cam H on theother end of shaft 7.

Mounted between roll means A and B is a third roll means "C. This rollmeans includes two metal roll sections spaced to provide a central gap20. The roll means C is carried by arms 22 and 23 that are fastened to ashaft 24. A further arm 25 extends upwardly and forwardly of roll meansC and carries a cam follower roller 26. Thus the arms constitute a levermeans I. This roller 26 cooperates with cam H whereby responsive torotation of such cam H, the arms 22, 23 and roll means C moves upwardlyso that the roll means is out of engagement with rubber roll means A, Band the carrier web. Spring means 27 normally urge the arms 22, 23 androll means C downwardly into driving contact with roll means A, B.Therefore in lowered position, the rotation of roll means A, B from thedrive input frictionally drives roll means C, see FIG. 10.

Fixed between the side plates 8 and 9 is a stripping or dispensing bar Dthat includes a lower edge 29 around which passes the silicone coatedpaper carrier web W having the pressure sensitive labels L peelablyadhered thereto. The labels L are stripped off or peeled from the web asthe latter passes around edge 29. This action occurs because the web isbeing pulled upwardly by the cooperation of roll means C and B, whilethe label is being pushed downwardly by the cooperation of roll means Cand A. The label adheres to the package as it passes beneath the zone oflabel application at lower edge 29uof bar D, the label being pressedonto the package by to A.

Mounted above roll means C is a shaft 30 that carries a label sensingfinger means 31 that extends downwards in the space between rollsections 16, 17. The lower end of finger means 31 is bifurcated andsupports a square wheel 32. This so-called square wheel is a star wheelshaped to provide four equi-spaced edges or points 33. A spring means 34urges shaft 30 to a position that normally presses finger means 31 andthe star wheel 32 towards dispensing bar 28. The shaft 30 also carriesan upwardly extending lever 35 having an offset end that carries a pin36 that projects into the path of movement of and can press against adepending lever 37 fastened to the adjacent side plate. The lever 37carries a pin 38 and a spring 39 connected between lever 37 and anotherlever arm means 40 mounted on the side plate urges the lever 37 to aposition in which projecting pin 38 is in the path of movement of pins41, 42 extending outwards from clutch output coupling 19 atdiametrically opposite points thereof. The lever arm means 40 carriesanother pin 43 that projects into the path of movement of pins 41, 42.The spring 39 normally urges lever arm means 40 to a position such thatpin 43 is in the path of movement of pins 41, 42.

The shaped collar 14 that carries package sensing finger F, alsosupports a swingable cam 45 that makes contact with a pin 46 axiallyadjustably mounted on lever arm means 40.

The cam H includes diametrically opposite grooves 47 and high points orsurfaces 48 so that the follower roller 26 and arm 25 alternately raisesand lowers roll means C out of and into contact with rubber roll meansA,B and the carrier web W.

The arrangement operates such that after a lead strip of carrier web Wis passed through adjustable web guides 50 on screw shaft 21 adjusted byknob 28, down between rolls A and C around bar D, back up and betweenrolls B and C to the rewind core on shaft 1, the applier head is readyto apply labels L to packages such as P being fed forwardly on conveyorC. The first package engages sensing finger F to lift same and rotateshaped collar means 14. This causes cam 45 to cause lever means 40 topivot to move pin 43 out of engagement with one of pins 41 and 42 sothat the output coupling of the clutch turns to rotate the shaft 7 andcam H so that the follower roller 26 drops into a groove 47 of cam H.The pin 41 or 42 on output coupling A, that had cleared pin 43' when itwas moved, is stopped by engagement with pin 38 so that the cam shaftstops. The roll means, thus lowered, makes contact with roll means A, B.The drive thus frictionally imparted to third roll means C, causes thethree roll means to conjointly pull the web W through the head R andpush the label to the dispenser bar 28. The label L is stripped from theweb and applied to the forwardly moving package and pressed in place inpassing under rubber roll means A. When the next label passes under starwheel 32, the forward or leading edge of that next label engages onepoint of the star wheel 32 and causes the same to rotate a quater turnand press against bar D. This turning movement displaces the finger 31and pivots shaft 30 and lever 37 to a position that the pin 36 carriedthereby, moves 'lever 37 and releases pin 38 from engagement behind oneof pins 41, 42. Note that only minimal movement of finger 31 is neededto cause the necessary degree of swinging movement of lever 35 to effectswinging of lever arm 37 to effect release of pin 38 out of the path ofmovement of pins 41, 42. Thus the shaft 7 can again turn to cause cam Hto raise third wheel means C so that the web stops feeding, the turningof the cam ceasing when one of the pins 41, 42 again abuts pin 43 onlever 40. At this point, another label is ready for application to thenext succeeding package. This sequence is continued as long as packagesare being fed under the label applying head to swing up finger F andtrip the clutch.

The arrangement is such that it is not limited to cooperation withpackages being fed forwards on a conveyor. Thus by placing a panel unit60 carrying a plurality of freely rotatable rolls 61 under the labelapplying head and placing a package thereon, the frictional engagementwith the rubber rolls A, B will propel the package through the head Rand apply the label.

A pivotal mounting of the applier head allows it to be adjusted todifferent height packages without moving the drive unit Q. Thus a levermeans 62 is connected to head R by a pivot, not shown, and alsoconnected by a pivot pin 63 to the drive unit Q. A spring 64 and anabutment, not shown, keep the head R level as it moves up or down inresponse to varying thicknesses of packages.

The rewind core 65 for the waste web is mounted on shaft 1 by anoverrunning coupling 66 which allows shaft 1 to turn relative to therewind core when there is no back tension on the web. Thus when roll Cis out of contact, the rewind core does not turn.

The clutch means 18, 19 is of a conventional nature and is of theone-way camming roller type. Thus in one direction of rotation of thesprocket wheel 12, the clutch element 19 on the cam shaft is not coupledto the clutch element 18 on the input shaft turned by sprocket wheel 12.However, when the sprocket wheel is turned in the other direction, theclutch element 19 is coupled and turns the cam shaft until one of thepins 41, 42 abuts one of the pins 38, 43, whereupon it disengages.

It is also to be pointed out that when clutch element or output coupling19 turns upon release of pin 38 from engagement with one of pins 41, 42,it rotates through an are sufficient to again position follower rolleras in FIG. 9. Thus the roller is at a location such that the shorttravel of a pin 41, 42 between its point of release by pin 43 and itsabutment with pin 38, allows the third roll means C to make contact withthe web W and roll means A and B.

Further, the invention contemplates an arrangement in which thedispensing blade is eliminated and the third roll means is a smalldiameter roll C and is placed beneath the two rubber roll means A, B.The small diameter third roll stays in contact with the two rubberrolls. Thus to effect automatic operation, the rotation of the rubberrolls must be alternately started and stopped by control means, notshown.

In this form illustrated in FIG. 12, the zone of label application is atroll C which is placed beneath rolls A, B.

What is claimed is:

1. Label applying apparatus for use with a carrier web having successionof pressure-sensitive adhesive coated labels peelably adhered theretofor stripping and applying the labels to an article at a zone of labelapplication; said label applying apparatus comprising: three parallelroll means; a fixed bar having a label stripping edge adjacent the zoneof application; said bar being spaced between and on a side offset fromtwo of said roll means; the third roll of said roll means being locatedbetween said first two roll means and on the side opposite from saidfixed bar, said fixed bar and roll means providing means for passingsaid web around the label stripping edge and between the third rollmeans and each of said two roll means, means for alternately moving saidthird roll means into and out of contact with said two roll means andsaid web to press said web against said two rolls such that in responseto a frictional inward drive of said third roll means against said firsttwo said roll means the web is advanced and the labels strippedtherefrom at the zone of label application.

2. Label applying apparatus in accordance with claim 1, furthercomprising means for imparting drive to said roll means, said impartingdrive means comprises coupling said first two roll means forsimultaneous rotation and means for alternately starting and stoppingrotation of said first two roll means.

3. Label applying apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and movable meanssupporting said third roll means for movement to a first position whereit is in contact with said carrier web and said first two roll means,and to a second position where it is out of contact with said first tworoll means, said means for imparting drive to said roll means includingmeans coupling said first two roll means for simultaneous rotation,means for rotating said first two roll means and means forintermittently moving said third roll means between said first andsecond positions.

4. Label applying apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and actuating meansfor the means for intermittently moving said third roll means to saidfirst and second positions, including means responsive to movement of anarticle to be labeled to elfect movement of said third roll means tosaid first position.

5. Label applying apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and said actuatingmeans further including means operative in response to approachingmovement of a succeeding label toward said zone of label application toeffect movement of said third roll means to said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Marano 156351 Allen et a1. 156361Schrotz 156-542 X Collons 156-542 X CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary ExaminerR. GAITHER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Messmer 156-361 10 156-361, 542; 221-73

